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Though the Chicago Bears saw a two-game regression last season—the team went 5-12 after finishing 7-10 the previous year—there was plenty to be impressed by from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
The 23-year-old signal-caller ranked third among rookie QBs, behind Denver’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Jayden Daniels, in passing yards (3,541) and touchdowns (20), and he was tied for the third-fewest interceptions (six) of any QB with 20 or more touchdowns.
Perhaps even more impressive was Williams only has one season under his belt but he’s already thrown for the fifth-most single-season passing yards in Bears franchise history.
And while Williams’ rookie season may not have gone exactly according to plan, Bears fans will likely take it considering the fact that Williams reportedly did his best to avoid ending up in Chicago leading up to the 2024 NFL draft, according to a book set to release in September by author Seth Wickersham titled “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback.”
“Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die,” Williams’ dad Carl told Wickersham leading up to the draft last year.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
According to Wickersham, Carl and Caleb Williams considered every form of radical intervention to circumvent the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement and draft process to put Caleb on a better team including meeting with labor lawyers and agents to find loopholes.
Caleb reportedly even considered signing with the United Football League to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
The Williams family even spoke to Archie Manning, who allegedly masterminded Eli Manning’s legendary draft spectacle in 2004 that forced his trade from the then-San Diego Chargers to the New York Giants.
Per Wickersham, Caleb wanted to go to the Minnesota Vikings, who drafted former Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick last year. However Bears general manager Ryan Poles reportedly told Williams “We're drafting you no matter what.”
Williams has since come around on his stance of being a member of the Bears, who have since hired offensive guru Ben Johnson as head coach.
“Being able to be in this position, being able to have a first year the way I did, ups and downs, and then to be able come in here, be as confident as I was last year or possibly even more and to be able to get here with the group that we have, I really can't wait to get to work with these guys," Caleb told reporters last month.
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The 23-year-old signal-caller ranked third among rookie QBs, behind Denver’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Jayden Daniels, in passing yards (3,541) and touchdowns (20), and he was tied for the third-fewest interceptions (six) of any QB with 20 or more touchdowns.
Perhaps even more impressive was Williams only has one season under his belt but he’s already thrown for the fifth-most single-season passing yards in Bears franchise history.
And while Williams’ rookie season may not have gone exactly according to plan, Bears fans will likely take it considering the fact that Williams reportedly did his best to avoid ending up in Chicago leading up to the 2024 NFL draft, according to a book set to release in September by author Seth Wickersham titled “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback.”
“Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die,” Williams’ dad Carl told Wickersham leading up to the draft last year.
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Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
According to Wickersham, Carl and Caleb Williams considered every form of radical intervention to circumvent the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement and draft process to put Caleb on a better team including meeting with labor lawyers and agents to find loopholes.
Caleb reportedly even considered signing with the United Football League to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
The Williams family even spoke to Archie Manning, who allegedly masterminded Eli Manning’s legendary draft spectacle in 2004 that forced his trade from the then-San Diego Chargers to the New York Giants.
Per Wickersham, Caleb wanted to go to the Minnesota Vikings, who drafted former Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick last year. However Bears general manager Ryan Poles reportedly told Williams “We're drafting you no matter what.”
Williams has since come around on his stance of being a member of the Bears, who have since hired offensive guru Ben Johnson as head coach.
“Being able to be in this position, being able to have a first year the way I did, ups and downs, and then to be able come in here, be as confident as I was last year or possibly even more and to be able to get here with the group that we have, I really can't wait to get to work with these guys," Caleb told reporters last month.
Continue reading...
